Drama Queens - The Truth Behind it All with Michaela McManus

Episode Date: June 26, 2023

Michaela McManus was brought to Tree Hill for what she believed was a relatively benign three episode arc. She left with so much more, including what would become her real life husband! Find out how it all went down.  Plus, a debate erupts regarding her character Lindsey’s intentions… whose side will you fall on?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. It may look different, but native culture is alive. My name is Nicole Garcia, and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. Somewhere along the way, it turned into this full-fledged award-winning comic shop. That's Dr. Lee Francis IV, who opened the first Native comic bookshop. Explore his story along with many other native stories on the show, Burn Sage, Burn Bridges. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

First of all, you don't know me. We're all about that high school drama girl, drama girl, all about them high school queens. We'll take you for a ride and our comic girl. Drama queen cheering for the right team. Drama queens, drama queens, smart girl, rough girl, fashion but you'll tough girl. You could sit with us, girl. Drama queen, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens, drama queens. Babes, we just watched a doozy of an episode.

Some good. Some good and some very bad. Is that what you were going to say? Girl! It's just the yin and the yang. We got two sides of the coin today. And thankfully, we have the most remarkable woman here to help us get through. We sure do.

Guys, we're here for episode 9 of season 5. For tonight, you're only here to know, much more commonly known as the library episode. We all had some pretty fond memories of this and then, good God, we watched it and we were like, wow, half of this script is gorgeous and half of it is so embarrassing. Yeah, pay your writers, friends. Don't go on strike again. Pay writers. Oh, man, oh man. But Hillary is right. We have an incredible guest with us today. Yes, we do. The fabulous.

beautiful, incredibly talented and just the best kind person I know. Michaela McManus is here and we're so excited to bring her in. Bring her in. Bring her in. How do you look the exact same? You have not aged a day.

What? Yeah. You're being really sweet. I've, I turned 40 last month. It's like, who welcome. Yes, Mama. Yeah, you're the baby of the group. welcome she's like are you casting spells what are you doing to stay all young because i'm also 40 and don't look nearly like you thank you for your patience i had a technical difficulty

my phone my my computer wasn't working and i had to mike daniels had to come to the rescue and lend me fan up can we just start with that then can we start with mike daniels just dive in Her with Mike, yeah. The Lindsay character came in and changed the game because she stole Lucas's heart and, you know, was really competition in a way that I don't think Peyton or me as an actor was anticipating.

But in real life, your love story on the show was very sweet and like seemingly not terribly complicated. You guys fell in love and ran away, right? Yes. I mean, it happens at the end. So we were never together. while I was filming. Oh, really?

Did you even know each other? I met him. So the previous episode to the one that we're going to talk about, he wrote. Yes, and it was beautiful. Yeah. Yeah. So I remember, like, I'd get my script at the Riverview where I would say. Yeah.

We'd land on my doorstep in a nice little manila envelope, and it was like Christmas. Every time I'd open my door, I'd be like, oh, what's happening? And the song that had been in my head that whole week was, please please let me get what I want from the smiths you know yeah it's in my head and I see this script I'm like oh my gosh it's so weird the song's been in my head all week by mike daniels I'm like who's this and then I read it was my favorite scripts up to that point it's so good and then he came for his episode because he was a first time writer that year that was his first season and first ever writing job oh my god yeah yeah he was his staff for

writer and yeah and um and he came down for like two days or something and we had a big group dinner Sophia you were there I remember and he was like Joe was there and Tori was there I think and um I forget what restaurant I forget the name of it but it was on that like main strip it was deluxe or circa one or the other it was deluxe and I was like man this guy is so sweet and he's so what i need in this business like i'd already worked it on my head i was like can't really can't really go for the actor or the my you know that was my thing up to that point i was like but this guy is so sweet and so charming and like i really felt a connection with him right away and then and then cut to like the charity basketball game months and months later

I think we must have been shooting like the finale or something. Oh, is that what it was? Yeah. He awkwardly got thrown into a transpo van together because we were staying in the same hotel. Uh-huh. We had a couple of, it was like a rocky start, like some awkward moments because I was kind of like watching on him. But wait, after that dinner, did you guys exchange numbers?

Were you texting? Were you in touch? No, he did have my number. I feel like he texted me when his episode aired to be like, I loved you in the show or whatever. Yeah, so weird. I never got a text. Did you girls get texts? No, not me. Never. Certainly did not.

It was a ruse. And then we ended up in the van together having these awkward bumpy moments. And Lisa was staying in my room with me because she wasn't shooting in that episode, but she wanted to come for the charity game. I was like, calm, stay in my room. We'll hang out. Melissa and she joined me and when I got back to my room I was like I had some awkward moments with this writer Mike Daniels but he's so cute there's something about him I really like and all of a sudden ding ding we both get text at the same time and it's from Mike and he goes I'm staying in the room directly underneath you guys and making everything you're saying stop stop oh no no way you're just

like, like, stopped speaking entirely. Like, for the rest of the people, like, were you on the balcony or were you just in the room? Inside the room. That's terrifying. Really what he heard was just, like, giggling and like, because we were just girl talking. And he was making a joke not knowing, I'm talking about you. That's amazing. Yes.

Like, more awkward around him for the next few days. Like, it took a minute for us to find. He has no idea what he did at the time. Yeah, yeah. And then I think it wasn't until I was leaving the show. And I was leaving to go directly to Law and Order. Yeah. And it was right before I got cast when we went on our first date.

And then I was like, oh, I'm testing for the show. It's in New York. I was like, I guess that's kind of it, you know, because we'd gone on one date. And Mike was just like so sweet and just like all in. He was like, I'm going to red-eye it every weekend. Oh, my God. He was ready after date one. You guys are cute.

Oh, man. He's the best. And so how many years have you guys been married now? So we just had our 15-year dating anniversary. Oh, babe. I love that. 15 years together is awesome. Yeah, and we married after three years together, yeah.

Right on. It's been like 12 years, yeah. It's so crazy. Listen, there's a lot of cringy shit that came out of the One Tree Hill years. I mean, we all made some bad. choices but your story with your husband is seemingly like the gold standard like you did it i mean we have three little kids that are like one tree hill kids you know it all started from this job so it is very i have a lot of gratitude for this job for that you know and did he stay on till the end or how many

years did mike work on the show he was there for three years okay he's in five six and seven yeah yeah I mean, look, and I love that you go, oh, man, I just fucking love that you guys could have gotten together and bitched about all the same people together. And it's like, it's so nice to have that outlet with your partner where it's like what Peyton says in this episode with Mia where she's like, who do we hate? That is fun, man. We just had a very different, we were like on opposite sides. I mean, he was always in L.A.

It was almost, it was weird that he ever came to Wilmington because really the writers didn't come to set very often. Yeah, they would get one trip a year maximum. Right, right. I want to say that this episode is when the writer strike happened. It's like when it kicked in. So Mike might have been the last writer that was allowed to visit Wilmington because this episode that we'll talk about eventually was the first one where they were like, you cannot make any changes. If any changes happened to the script. It has to be like an actor improvising. So no one could tell us what to do. It was just like either say it exactly like it's on the page or you're quote unquote improvising. So it was really like murky and weird. So he made the last ship out. Had the strike happened like one week earlier,

I might not have met him. I might not have had this whole life. Sliding doors. So well, I want to go back even further because you and Hillary went to school. Did you both go to Fordham together or just stuff that did you So when I was a policeman Hillary was a sophomore and she'd already like blown up Well let's let's temper blown up

Like what's blown up At the time? Everybody knew who Hillary was when I got to campus it was like Do you know, did you hear about the story about Hillary Burton? I should got discovered out on the streets and we were all like kind of hoping the same thing would happen to us you know like i was like standing by the red carpet and you're like maybe what happened to

hillary will be i love the dorms the success story and then i remember i don't know maybe it was my junior year when one tree hill started airing and i remember watching it in the dorm rooms with that's so weird so that was from the gardener oh gardener lulin i love that dude We're nervous dating my roommate, Caroline. So they're like, we got up with Caroline. You lived with Caroline? Yes. Caroline is like one of my freshman year roommates.

See, we had so much like crossover with each other. And it was so exciting when you joined the cast. Because I was like, did you have, did you have Larry Sakaro? You did? Yeah, of course. Oh, man. And it was so nice because, you know, when you go to a place like Wilmington and you start filming a show and you've had this whole other life that no one there knows about to have

someone come in and be like no i i know about your last chapter and also let's let's gossip tell me every i wanted to know everything such a strange connection though because it's such a small school you know it may look different but native culture is very alive my name is Nicole Garcia and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. It was a huge honor to become a television writer because it does feel oddly, like, very traditional. It feels like Bob Dylan going electric, that this is something we've been doing for a hundred years. You carry with you a sense of purpose and confidence. That's Sierra Teller Ornelis, who with Rutherford Falls became the first native showrunner

in television history. On the podcast, Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we explore her story, along with other Native stories, such as the creation of the first Native Comic-Con or the importance of reservation basketball. Every day, Native people are striving to keep traditions alive while navigating the modern world, influencing and bringing our culture into the mainstream. Listen to Burn Sageburn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. my godson into the school, all he wants to do is work in the industry. And I was like, baby, you have to be in Manhattan. So just let's just get you into the city. I love boredom.

And I reach out to get him into the school. And did you have Professor Papa Nicolao, the hot theology professor? No. Oh, girl. That was the highlight of being there. I reached out and they're like, oh, yes, you're an alumni of the school. Of course we can help you get your godson in. And I'm like, what are you talking about? I didn't get to graduate. And they were like, no, no, no. It says on all of our stuff, you're an alumni of the school. And I was like, I'm not. But if someone wants to give me a degree, that'd be cool. Take it. An honorary degree. I think they do that. Do you go back for like alumni stuff? It's been ages since I've been back. Yeah. All right. We're going to make a trip. I love that. I love that you guys knew each other.

were like stomping around New York at the same time. So having watched the show when you were in college. Yeah, yeah. Because you had a, you know, college classmate on it. Was it weird when you had to audition? Or did it help you feel familiar and like plot how you were going to come in and give everyone your take on who Lindsay was? I mean, how did that happen?

I mean, at that moment in my life, I feel like I was just like throwing darts and like hoping something would stick because after Fordham, I went straight to NYU grad and I was doing my master's in theater. I was really on a theater trajectory. And it's a three year program. It's a great program. And I'm midway through like during my second year. A casting director sees me, leaves a little note in my cubby. And he's like, come up and maybe we can meet and maybe you can audition. So I start going up during my lunch breaks, which is totally not allowed in the program. Because it's like there's 18 kids in my class. It's like, you know, it's one of those. Oh, that's right. They don't want you like doing stuff outside of the program. It's super taboo. It's very much like in line with like Juilliard and Yale drama.

It's like you're serious. You're in, you're here 24-7. This is your life. You're not going to do a teen drama. Not that riff-rap. But I was hungry and I had this little moment where I was like, oh, gosh, that's so enticing to get to have some experience. I'd always wanted to work on camera.

So I went up and I started auditioning and all of a sudden I'm testing for a show, the show Brothers and Sisters. Oh, yeah. I'm like, are you kidding? Sally, what a show. Right. I don't get the part, but it just kind of threw everything into a spiral. And they caught wind of it because I thought in L.A.

I have to leave and not what was your lie you were like I have to visit my grandmother in Los Angeles honestly I was too much of a like good girl that I couldn't lie I was like so I'm testing for a show and it was like what they were not happy about it I went anyway I didn't get the part but it just kind of the wheel started turning and so I left school halfway through which felt like such a you know gamble such a leap the stakes were so high to like make something of this because you know and um and i got one tree hill like five months later which is insane looking back you know so lucky it's so meta in that i mean one tree hill was on when you were in college so you already kind of knew what we were doing and then lindsay knows everything about brook and peyton and haley and

everybody, but they don't necessarily like know her. And so it's like that duality is weird. That's funny. I don't think of it that way. That's so true. You had all the intel. Oh, man. Did having that intel and knowing that Lindsay was going to come in as the wedge between Lucas and Peyton, was it intimidating or was it exciting or both? Oh my God. The whole experience for me was just like massively intimidating. Oh, really? Oh, my, I was so intimidated by you guys. Yeah, we couldn't tell. No. It was a fake until you make it kind of situation because I was just like, during headlights, this was totally new to me. I'd never worked in this medium before. And it's,

so it's funny, like, looking back at my performance, I'm like, oh, my God. I had, I learned, it was beautiful. Yeah, I don't know what you're talking about. We were all gaga over you. because you're like you were so much more mature than we were probably because we're all dropouts and stunted at whatever age we like stopped out. You just seemed so much. You dropped out of grad school. It's different.

Yeah. No, you seemed so much steadier than I felt, you know? And so I was just like, wow. She's like glamour. Honestly, when I auditioned, it was supposed to be, well, what I was told, three episodes, I'm playing his boss, his editor. I had no idea of love interest. Like in your memory, I didn't find out until I was down there.

What? What? No way. In the professional, like, wearing my pencil skirt, the audition, like, I'm the editor, you know? And then... It's kind of smart that they didn't tell you guys that, though, because that would have been extra intimidating for people. Like, you're coming in as a love interest for the lead guy on, you know, on One Tree Hill.

That would have been... Yeah, you're right. Messed with your brain a little. You're right. Like, I was like, okay, this is another... This is a great. job because it's three episodes it's a great amount of experience i don't have um and then i think i feel like i was in a fitting or something when somebody was like no you're you're his love interest and i was

like but i'm only here for three always the costume or always knows boardrobe knows man they're already fitting you for wedding dresses and she's a little longer you know i think it's going to be it's going to last longer than three episodes yeah i love that you didn't know i did not know And then, and I was just so nervous about all of it. I was like, oh, my God, they're going to see right through me. I have no experience. And you guys were the ones who just, like, had it together on a level that was so wild to me. Like, I remember at the, at the table read, I remember a couple things.

One, when they drop all of the new pages, you know, and their pink pages or blue pages back in the day when they were hard copies. Yeah. And I remember, Sophia, I remember you just. like riffling through your script and like putting the new pages in where they belonged and I had no idea what you were doing it was just like what's happening she's taking pages she's taking my house just putting in like it was so like am I supposed to be doing this I know and I was just like I was literally just like watching you steadily like do I need to do this how do I do this and then I made the connection with you Hillary about like our Fordham thing yeah come over come

to my house and I was like oh okay and you had me over for dinner and I show I pull up to your house and oh no it's a scary house though like we're so young and like fresh out of school like I was so I walk in you have like this cool taxidermy you were just cool that house was freaky man I apologize I loved it it was it was great and then you had you cooked um like seared tuna and I was like I don't even know how we begin making a meal like this. I'm like 23, 24 years old, you know. I was so intimidated by all of you. You just like had it together.

And, you know, you were in season five of the show and, you know, had worked before then. I was a fish out of the water to say the least, you know. It may look different, but native culture is very alive. My name is Nicole Garcia. And on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. It was a huge honor to become a television writer because it does feel oddly, like, very traditional. It feels like Bob Dylan going electric, that this is something we've been doing for a hundred of years.

You carry with you a sense of purpose and confidence. That's Sierra Teller Ornelis, who with Rutherford Falls became the first native showrunner in television history. On the podcast, Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we explore her story, along with other native stories. stories, such as the creation of the first Native Comic-Con or the importance of reservation basketball. Every day, native people are striving to keep traditions alive while navigating the modern world, influencing and bringing our culture into the mainstream. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcasts. Well, you came in like right when all the time. toxic shit was going on. And I think there was a big, like, rush to make sure, like, you were okay, like, the nothing. Where is going on with you? Like, we got to talk to her. We got to bring her into the fold real quick. Because we liked you so much right away. And I think that was surprising because you're supposed to be someone that I certainly was supposed to be combative with. And that was difficult because I, I really, really liked you. And was like, but I don't want to say mean things to her. That feels weird. Yeah. No, I felt that with you guys,

all of you. And I think something that was always so clear, like, and we've talked about it in the episodes leading up to this one and to you joining us today is your presence was so powerful from day one. And I remember like one night going to Yosaki with you and Lisa and you guys both just being like, okay, we've been here for a minute, like, what's going on? You remember just like, God, we didn't say it then, but like the tea was spilt in every direction and I was like, I will kill someone for these two. Yeah. And like, I don't know.

It was so, it was so amazing to have incredible women come in. And, and yeah, I mean, to Hillary's point, like, we knew what was up. we were like, what kind of texts are you getting and are you okay? And it was weird. It was a good year. Like, we got Tori, Lisa, and you and Daphne. And Kate and Kate, too. And Kate. And I mean, it was such a great influx of strong, smart, positive women. And I think, too, what made me nervous was I got a, I got a call. And it was like, just so you know, it can be really clicky down there, you know, just look at all. And I was like, oh, God, because I, I, like, run the opposite direction when I can smell drama. I'm like, it's just not my vibe, you know?

And so I got down there, like, kind of bracing myself. And I got, like, this invite to dinner from you. I remember going out the first night. And, Sophia, I remember, like, pulling me out into the dance floor. And you were just, like, dancing. It was just, like, so open and welcoming. I remember going Joy to your house with Tori. I feel like, like, desserts or something.

I don't know. I just remember you guys coming over. don't know if I made dinner or if we just like, if we hung out and drank wine and then went out, I can't remember. But I remember sitting there with you guys. It was the opposite of what I was sort of bracing myself for, yeah. But then it makes you second guess it. You're like, why all these bitches being so nice? When's the other shoe going to drop? Honestly, I welcomed it. I was like, thank God, you know. So when was the last time you watched One Tree Hill? Did you just watch this episode, and it was the first one in ages?

When I got worried about this, I was like, okay, I need to catch up and, you know, do my homework and see, like, because I can't remember. It's been a minute, you know, what is the arc of my character? So I've been watching. Yes. I'm like, how do you guys do this? How do you do this every week? Because it is torture to watch it.

Stop it. No. God, I loved it. I mean, because... For me, it's like watching a totally different person. Like it was so long ago. And then like, you know, you have kids, you have other jobs, you have a life, you have all these things that kind of sit in the middle between then and now.

And so it's just like making fun of somebody else. That feels better. That's a good way to look at it. And it's true, like, I don't even recognize myself. I'm like, who really? That person. The voice is different. Like, everything feels so different to me.

yeah you're so good in it though I mean what kind of stuff did you do growing up how did you get involved in theater were you doing razzle dazzle musicals like joy and I or were you a fespian activist like Sophia what are you doing I wish I had a voice in me but that that was not my fate in life but my mom did community theater so I grew up watching my mom on stage

oh yeah I remember when I was Does she still? She does She does still. That's awesome. Wow. Yeah, my brothers and sisters, we just went back in February of the previous year to go see her star in a show. She's still doing it.

And when I was nine, I saw her in Nightmother. Are you guys familiar with that play? No. It's dark. It's dark. I don't feel that spoil at the ending, but it's pretty heavy at the ending. And I was so moved by it. I think that was really the first moment where I was like, oh, I want to do this.

I was watching my mom Oh, that's so nice But you work with your brothers a lot now I've been so lucky to work with them A little bit I mean we did that movie like Four or five years ago You're always like promoting them on your social media

And I'm like she's the fucking best I want a sister like Michaela They've just been my champions like through and through And we made our first movies together Like 12 years old When I was 12 and God, they were like nine or something. We were doing movies like horror movies, you know?

And so we've just been on this ride together and getting to do that movie with them. We shot back on the East Coast where I'm from. It was just next level like passion project, you know? What's it called? It's called the Block Island Sound and it's on Netflix. It did great. it's it was yeah I'm so proud of them and like I'll do anything they do because I just we just have like this shorthand with each other and I feel so safe with them I mean even I remember even during

one tree hill when I had like moments where I'm like really um just like second guessing myself and I'm feeling insecure they were like the first people I'd call they were at emerson they're in college and I was just like I'm like on the ledge help me get off it and they would they just say the right things and they're just they're the best and i have two older sisters too who've just been like also such huge supporters i've a my family is like that big old irish catholic family exactly like the most supportive the best that i it's a hard business so to have that foundation and have those people who support you um i just it's priceless i don't know what i would do without it. Then you and Mike worked together again, right? You guys were doing that show here in

New York. Yes, we did the village together. The village. That was another, that was like an incredible year because I shot the pilot of the village with Mike and then I went basically straight to doing the movie with my brothers. It was like the best year of my life creatively. Because I'm like my best friends. Yeah. Projects that I feel so passionately about that I really believe in that experience with Mike was next level and then you just got to spend uh how long were you in yosemite doing uh national park is it called national park it was called criminal nature it's a pilot criminal nature they changed yeah yeah i shot that uh last year exactly this time actually in june which side side note macaela's male lead in that pilot bought my house bought my ranch in

California. Oh, really? Yeah. So funny. So funny because I'd been to that house. That was the last time I saw you. It was right at the start of the pandemic. Yeah. And we're all like looking for something to do. That's right. Brought the kids out to see the horses. We went out to see the horses and I've been to that house since to see Parker who now owns that house like so weird. Is it very different? I haven't to keep meeting to text his wife and ask her to send me pictures of the house when what they did do it. I mean, It's such an amazing property. Yeah. That was, it's a special, special play.

I'm dying to know. That's so funny. So, okay, so back to Yosemite, though, because you were there for how long? So that shoot, we were down in New Mexico for two weeks, yeah. And then you split it up, and then we had a whole other unit, like an entirely different crew. And we went up to Yosemite. So we were in Yosemite for three days, which was incredible. So cool.

Yeah. Because they don't really let people. Yeah. I was going to say. Do they shoot there? I don't feel like that's a environmental friendly green light situation. No, it was like we had a very small footprint. Like no trailers.

Like it felt very indie film, you know? Were you going to put a trailer with the Buffalo? That's so weird. But it was so great. It was like such a fun, such a fun project that sadly, you know, it didn't go. It just that's the way it goes sometimes. Yeah. But you just never know.

Yeah, you got to take them as one-offs. Yeah, some of the best things don't go and some things that are men, go forever. And sometimes it's the other way around. And you just like, you just never know. Yeah. And it's like the things like the village, I could have spent the rest of my life on that show and been just like the happiest person on earth. But, you know, we got one season and that was that, but lucky to get the season. You know, you never know.

Yeah. After working on like one tree hill and having, you know, obviously some very public toxic situations, I find that I only want to work with people I already know now. Like those are the only jobs I want to do if it's with like relatives or family members or lifelong friends and things like that. If you could do a project with anyone that you in your circle that you haven't worked with yet, like who. Who are you going to do the next gig with? Yeah. I haven't worked with yet. Yeah, I mean, you've worked with your husband and your brothers.

I know. They're my top picks. Like, it's, that's so tricky because... You're going to have to lure your mother off of the stage. Just be like, Mommy. Yes. Mommy, join me. That would be cool.

That would be so cool to get to do something. Honestly, to do something on stage with my mom would be so special. To do my mother, which was the show. Ooh, yeah. That's full circle. And mother daughter. Has it ever been made into a film? I feel like it must have been.

I mean, yeah, I should know that, but I don't. We have some research to do. That would be really cool. Yeah, let's go get funding. Dissie Spacec and Ann Bancroft did it in 1986. Doesn't count. Yeah, it's been a long time. With all the love of my heart, they're fabulous.

Reboot. Everything's getting rebooted these days. It's time for a new one. Yeah. It may look different, but native culture is very alive. My name is Nicole Garcia, and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture. It was a huge honor to become a television writer because it does feel oddly, like, very traditional. It feels like Bob Dylan going electric, that this is something we've been doing for a hundred of years.

You carry with you a sense of purpose and confidence. That's Sierra Television. Ornellis, who with Rutherford Falls became the first native showrunner in television history. On the podcast, Burn Sage Burn Bridges, we explore her story, along with other Native stories, such as the creation of the first Native Comic-Con or the importance of reservation basketball. Every day, Native people are striving to keep traditions alive while navigating the modern world, influencing and bringing our culture into the mainstream. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We have a whole butt ton of fan questions that we need to get to. Because people found out you were coming on, Michaela. Oh, and they went bananas. Flood. Because these are all the people who want us to reboot our show. And since we have not, like, get very amped to get in on the fan questions. get the sort of behind the scenes perspective if you're game to play. Oh, absolutely. Let's do it.

So from Cragan, okay, they're asking if you could have any other love interest, who would it be? Who else could Lindsay have had a little dalliance with in Tree Hill? These are the kinds of questions. It's like, I love that our fans use their imagination and love to suppose every possible scenario that could have happened and maybe should have happened. I mean, offset, I had the best time with Lee. Like, we just had such a great relationship, you know, hanging out. I love that kid. So he's not a kid anymore, but it's such a ball together. So let's say Lee.

Let's throw Lee in the mix there. Oh, I want to ask this one. Fraley asks, how did you feel about your style? Lindsay was 22 years old and ready for business meetings 24-7. Great. That's a great question. I mean, that's what I'm saying when I'm like, I look back and I'm like, who is this person? Because I, at the time, which you would never know, I was wearing like T-shirts and ripped jeans and Converse and so not.

You were so rock and roll. I'm so that girl, like I love a T-shirt and jeans. Like, I'm coming in heels. I'm like, okay, when do I get to take them off? You know? So, but for whatever reason, people often see me as this sort of polished and professional woman. Hardly, I wonder if that has to do with my theater training and just sort of like, that's

what I look back at and I hear in my, the way that I converse on the show. It's like, everything had intention and everything had like, you know, there was just like a certain You're in good posture. Yeah, like, throw it away. It wasn't there. Yeah, it was like Alexander technique was just like, you know, it's like the state stuff. So it's so funny to see myself, I'm wearing those pencil skirts and those like, you know, silk button downs and very structured. I did not recognize myself when I'd step on to step.

But at the same time, I was like, I'm playing a character and this is who Lindsay is. Yeah. Like, let let that go. Also, like, business wear was a thing that young women wore back in the early aughts. And I look back and I'm like, what were we doing? That was our one time in life to just be slutty and inappropriate. And instead, we were wearing capri pants and matching sweater sets. Haley, in this episode, the wardrobe was rough.

It was like, well, lately, like as a teacher, it's like she became a teacher and then suddenly dressed in all businesswear. That's it. That's all. I was super jealous of Peyton's clothes. I was like, so cool all the time. Peyton had the best vibe this season. Totally. That was all Carol Cuttshell.

But there really was, you're right. There was such an era of like young professional business wear. Oh, God. I feel like I look like I'm in my 40s on the show. You don't. No, but they didn't. They did the same thing to Alice. They made Alice all like super serious.

too. Mouth's boss? Except she was in all short skirts. Yeah, she had baby size. Yeah. But one of the benefits of playing older or looking older when you're that young is that as you age, people are constantly amazed

that you have stayed the same. Yeah. Wow. You haven't changed it all. Okay, Steph wants to know what was your favorite Lindsay moment and what was the most challenging one? Okay, well, this is the same answer actually. Oh. And it was from this episode. It was the speech that I had to give about my dad.

And I read it on the page and I was like, oof, this is, this is tough. And again, like I, I, this was a new medium for me. And a lot of times in TV and film, you don't have the ramp. You just have to drop in and go. And I was super nervous about it. And I don't know if you guys remember. but I had like this mini breakdown. I remember. Yeah, okay. So we were in our cast chairs and our little cast holding. And we probably rehearsed it.

But when you rehearse in TV, you know, it's like pretty quick and it's blocking and then off you go. And the cameras are going to set up and, you know, any minute now, we'll call you in and then you'll deliver the scene and then we'll move on, right? Yeah. Yeah. So fast, moving, so much pressure. And I was not used to it at the time. And so I'm sitting in the chair. and it's the perfect time for touch up.

So hair and makeup, they swoop in. And I'm like trying to get into this head space, which was super challenging. And I remember the tears just like my eyes just start to well up and I just start to cry. And Sophia, you're like right across from me. And I think you're like reading a book and you look up and you see.

You're like, okay, everybody. Everybody out. Everybody out. You like, come over. And you're like, we need to give her some space. Is everything okay? How are you doing? and like joy came over and you came over like everybody just kind of like it was like group hug

moment to like help me calm down and get my bearings and like it was so I really look back at that moment because I really needed it and you guys really for me in that moment and when I watched that scene last night I was like I'm so proud of that because I was get to that place but only because I had this support of my cast. Yeah. Dude, you did that scene in like two takes. Like, I remember after the first time you did it, I mean, the crew members were like, whoa.

Yeah, it was so real. But you got me there. Like, it was all built up. No, that was in you. You just needed us to clear some space, man. Yeah. You just needed a minute. I, it's so wild that you're talking about this

because, you know, we have these weird, like, moments, right, where you get the sense memory from this stuff. And we're all zooming from all different parts of the country right now, and I'm in London, and it's 12.30 in the morning. And I'm walking every day, you know, from my – and, like, I'm trying to learn the city so I get off at, like, different train stops that are around where our theater is so I can, like, go in. And every day when I like walk from a different train station to the theater, I just have like

playlists going and I went back into my phone and I and I scrolled into like an old mix and explosions in the sky came on. And I literally was like, this was three days ago and we were prepping for this episode. And I was like, oh my God, I remember that night being like here. And, like, putting, what an weirdly intimate thing. I just, like, stuck my earbuds in your ears and was, like, listen to this song. And in the library. And then, like, I just remember.

And it's one of those things that any time I hear that album, I think of you. And, like, I was walking to work, you know, 15 years after we did that scene in the library that night. And so I just thought about the story you just told, like, literally three days ago. Oh, that's so cool. It's so cool how things like that stick with you. It's crazy, right? Yeah, it's awesome. And suddenly you're right back there with your team.

I just so appreciate you teaching me like, hey, take your moment, take your space. And I've, you know, it took me a while to kind of gain that confidence to be like, oh, I'm going to listen to my earbuds. I'm going to have a voice in this and not just be like, okay, I'll sit here and I'll do that. You know what I mean? Yes. that it's a collaboration and that's how we do our best work and yeah you guys taught me so much on this show so that is important to do that it really is because it's easy to walk into an environment that you feel a little intimidated and you just want to just I just want to just do my best and

not create any waves and man that's just there's no real creativity there and I think real artists crave that like please show up with an idea even if it's terrible and crazy it's an idea and we can play with it and maybe something interesting will come out of that idea but if we're all just playing it safe, I don't know, nothing exciting happens, you know? So I, yeah, I love that that you were willing to take up that space. Hillary, was it hard for you? That was the most mean I've ever seen Peyton in the show. Yeah. That, you know, and I know you had to push, I mean, I'm assuming you justified that by knowing that you had to push that hard in order for Lindsay to really like snap. Um, was that, was that hard? Did it feel like, um, a, a, a, a,

necessary out of character or did you I would just love to know kind of what you were thinking about that when you read it and then when you had to do it were you told like go further go further what was that like? Yeah I mean obviously there's a ton of stuff going on behind the scenes so I think there was a bit of character assassination

that was happening and I was super protective but I also felt super safe with Michaela that we could just cut the shit and be like hey we're going to say these horrible things and we're to do this job and it's going to feel very uncomfortable. And I think being able to cut through kind of that murkiness, especially women that are pitt against each other in a pretty dark industry.

I don't know. Sometimes you need years of a relationship to do that with someone. And sometimes you just need like a couple days. And I feel like we were able to do that in a really like healthy, safe way. So that made me love it. That made me be like, yeah, let's fight. But you didn't have a reaction when you got that like, why would Peyton do this or say these things? It just struck me as out of character. I'm watching it and I'm like, whoa. I know. I feel like we're going to force Michaela to stick around and talk about the actual episode with us and just dissect the shit out of it. This is the perfect episode for Lindsay's commentary because at this point, she knows all of these Tree Hill girls. And it's like, I'm done with your both.

shit. I'm Dawn. Don, do we have any more fan questions we want to hit? There's one I want to read. There are so many and they're so good, but Megan's question has asked. It must be addressed. It must be addressed. What is your take on the bamboo? Was it friendly or was Lindsay claiming her territory? That's so funny. No, it was all friendly. All love. Bullshit. Bolesh, Kayla. But here's what you need to. is like, I, you know, again, I showed up thinking I'm the boss. I have no idea I'm even the loving, like every day I'm getting new information. And that is the kind of crazy thing about episodic.

It's like, you actually have no idea where your character's going, right? So like, you know, just to go back to what Joy was saying about this particular episode, I was like, what's Lindsay saying now? Like, this isn't who I thought she was. Like, you're kind of being thrown this stuff. So in my Michaela way, probably, I was like, yeah, here's your bamboo. I have gotten so many fan reactions because a couple podcasts ago, Michaela, I was like, bullshit. She's claiming her territory.

Oh, yeah. And we were all like, how come, how come Haley didn't get one? The ex-girlfriend's all got them. Helly didn't get one. True. That's a good point, actually. That's a good point. Yeah. All I'm saying, I know what you were doing.

I love the love triangle. It's so fun to play. Like, did you have fun doing it? Because we really did get to be, like, bitchy together. Yeah, we did. I mean, I was so grateful for the job. It was such a, like, I really can't stress that enough. It was such a stressful moment for me to, to leave school. And so then to get this opportunity, I just wanted to do right by everybody. I just wanted to like learn and I feel like I was a sponge. I mean, I just remember that.

My very first scene, I'm doing the scene with Chad and I'm wearing bed and I'm wearing his shirt. And it's like, I'm locking his light. I don't even know what I'm doing. Wait, did he give you the Michael Cain book? No, he did. Because listen, when we shot the pilot, I was in your exact same shoes. I was like, oh my God, I've done one episode of Dawson's Creek.

I don't know any of these technical rules. And Chad took me out to Real Cafe and gave me a copy of that Michael Cain book, like actors on acting or it was like a book about like how to hit your mark and learn the crew members names. And it was just like a technique book. And it was so helpful. And he was the only person who could have given me that because like what was it like an AD going to give it to me?

Here, dumb. Read this. No, he was super nice to me because, again, I was just, like, super nervous. And, like, I remember them putting the tape on the floor and, like, I had no idea what the tape was about. And he's like, oh, that's your mark. Like, he was. Oh, babe. Yeah, yeah. What's that?

What's that tape about? It's fun. We got tape all over the floor up here. Yeah. Y'all make an art? What is that? Oh, speaking of art, before we dive into the episode. So, Michaela, are you creating anything right now?

For those of you don't know, Michaela is an incredible fine artist, and I would love to know what you're up to. So nice, Joy. I mean, my hands are pretty full with these three little rascals. So I feel like I get my, like, art fix with crafting, you know? So, or, you know, we just renovated our house. So I love interior design, and I love doing, you know, little. like that.

So I'm just like that those are my fun little side hobbies. Yeah. But it's always been a dream of mine to go back to art school. Because for me it was like, I mean, pursue art or pursue acting. And I went the acting route. And it's again, it's like that sliding doors moment. I'm like, well, what? But who knows?

Yeah. What's Lindsay doing? One of the last questions is how do you envision Lindsay's life playing out after leaving Lucas? Is she just like taking classes at RISD? and painting. Yeah, I love that. She goes to Rhode Island.

Yeah. Definitely not on Tree Hill anymore. She had to leave Tree Hill behind and start a new life and find something like 100% into her, you know? Yeah. She did. Yeah. I'm all for it. Okay, so we're going to talk about this episode, but you guys are going to have to,

the listeners at home are going to have to wait. Ha ha! Ha ha! And I can't wait to break this one down. So juicy. Yeah. Can't wait. Thanks for hanging.

Hey, thanks for listening. Don't forget to leave us a review. You can also follow us on Instagram at Drama Queen's O-T-H. Or email us at Drama Queens at iHeartRadio.com. See you next time. We're all about that high school drama girl, drama girl, all about them high school queens. We'll take you for a ride in our car. Comic girl.

Drama, girl, cheering for the right team. Drama queens, drama queens. Smart girl, rough girl, fashion but you'll tough girl. You could sit with us, girl. Drama queen, drama queens, drama queens. Drama, drama queens, drama queens. It may look different, but native culture is alive. My name is Nicole Garcia, and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges, we aim to explore that culture.

Somewhere along the way, it turned into this full-fledged award-winning comic shop. That's Dr. Lee Francis IV. who opened the first native comic bookshop. Explore his story along with many other native stories on the show, Burn Sage Burn Bridges. Listen to Burn Sage Burn Bridges on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.